KIA Armed Ethnic Attacks Military Base, Eight Burmese Soldiers Killed

KIA armed ethnic soldiers. (Twitter/@LZaw21)

JAKARTA - The armed ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) continues to carry out attacks against the military regime. In the last three days, KIA has been involved in armed clashes since Sunday until the attack on the airstrip on Tuesday, June 1.

At least three artillery shells were fired at the Putao Air Base compound at around 4 am local time, Tuesday. The attack was recognized by KIA, because the airbase was used for the operation of the military regime's fighter jets in bombing KIA posts.

"The airport attack may be opportunistic. Armed groups will attack the Myanmar military regime whenever possible," said KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu, who said he had not received a report regarding the attack.

Fighting between KIA and Myanmar military regime forces in Putao Township began on Sunday 30 May. The regime tightened security in Putao, carrying out inspections and arrests of youths suspected of returning after attending KIA military training.

"At noon on May 30, heavy artillery was heard near Tang Ja village, 28 miles from Putao. Several civilians have been hiding since then. Everyone is worried and paying attention to the situation. People are gathering food and medicine," said a citizen.

Sunday's fighting followed the KIA attack on May 29, against a military convoy of about 50 troops heading to the villages of Lung Sha Yang and Sum Pyi Yang in Putao Township, Myanmar.

Overall, since Sunday KIA has been engaged in fighting with the Myanmar military regime in five different locations in Kachin and Sagaing states.

Together with the people's defense forces (PDF) formed by the people in each region, KIA continues to fight the military regime that is trying to strengthen its position.

"The regime has strengthened their forces in our area recently, restricting our movement, so we had to launch an attack. The fighting was very intense, so KIA joined us," said a PDF spokesman in Katha.

"Eight regime soldiers were killed and 13 seriously injured, while five civil resistance fighters were killed and one was captured by the military during the fighting," he continued.

In response, the Myanmar military fired several artillery shells, including 60 mm rounds, at residential areas, local residents claim.

"We heard gunfire for almost two hours in the morning. The military also launched an artillery attack on KIA. We couldn't go to our fields because of the fighting. Artillery fire also fell on our village," said a local resident.

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